A/N: Thanks for the reviews. I really appreciate it. Without the reviews I wouldn't have the motivation to write this. So, again thank you. :)

Now....drumroll....On with the show!!

Chapter OneBuffy accompanied the four travelers on their journey. Where to, she couldn't say; she just knew, for some reason, that she could trust these people. They had made it out of the eerie and depressing forest and out into an open field. All but Gandalf stopped in their tracks; as if knowing not to follow the old man. Buffy looked around in confusion. The area she was seeing was nothing like Sunnydale. It was just beautiful. And the sky. The sky was bluer then she had ever seen. Even in California it wasn't that blue. She averted her attention quickly back to Gandalf who started whistling to the world around them. She could tell the sound was drifting by the echoes in the hills ahead. Then, out of nowhere, a white stallion appeared; running in their direction. Buffy was once again in awe.

"That is one of the mearas. Unless my eyes are cheated by some spell." Legolas also stared in awe at the creature before them. Buffy couldn't help but smirk at his words.

"Jeez. You're worse than Giles." Everyone but Gandalf turned to look at her in confusion.

"What!? I'm just sayin'." Buffy shrugged her shoulders as she spoke the last word and Legolas smiled at her.

"So, she does speak." His smile grew when she glared at him.

"Watch it, buddy. I'm stronger than I look." Buffy responded just before the stallion galloped up to Gandalf. Buffy watched as the wizard gently coaxed the fur on the horses neck.

"Shadowfax." The horse nodded his head when Gandalf spoke his name; as if he understood the words. "He's the Lord of all horses and has been my friend through many dangers."

They rode quickly through the tan fields; so fast Buffy had to hold on tightly to Legolas' waist. He had insisted she ride with him and Gimli with Aragorn; though she protested repeatedly until Gimli convinced her there was no arguing with the elf.

She never really questioned anyone since she met them until the word 'elf' came out of the dwarf's mouth. As she rode behind Legolas she examined him as best she could from her angle and that was when she noticed the points and the end of his ears; causing her to catch her breath. Now I've seen everything. She thought. Legolas must have felt her stiffen because he turned his head so he could see her form.

"Are you alright?" He asked and Buffy could have sworn she heard concern in his voice.

She nodded her head and realized he probably couldn't see her well enough to witness the motion her head made. But before she could speak he turned his attention ahead of him and she thought she heard something along the lines of 'he was glad', but she wasn't positive.

The cool breeze felt good against her skin, but the ride wasn't helping the way she was feeling. Ever since she arrived she didn't feel her best. Her head ached as if someone smacked the middle of her forehead with a hammer as hard as they could, her stomach turned with the slightest movement she made and her body ached from head to toe. She couldn't remember anything making her feel this horrid when she fought the forces of evil; not even when the master bit her did she feel this bad. In fact, she felt better then ever when Xander revived her. So, why was she feeling like this? The portal. It had to have been the portal. She had a feeling that it had very bad side effects, and more were to come. Oh, she was not looking forward to that.

They soon stopped ahead of a large hill with a village built on top of it. Buffy released her breath that she hadn't even realized she had been holding. Probably in an attempt to keep her stomach down. Well, it worked. For now. She stared at the large building that stood at the top of hill. It wasn't extremely extravagant, but it still held beauty that even the finest of castles or churches couldn't measure up to it.

"Edoras and the Golden Hall of Medusel. There dwells Théoden, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over King Théoden is now very strong." Gandalf spoke as everyone stared at the village in front of them; as if they were students in class listening intently to the teacher's lecture. "Be careful what you say. Do not look for welcome here."

And at his words the three horses were off running once again. Buffy tightly closed her eyes as the feeling in her stomach jumped back to life once again; causing her to tightly squeeze Legolas' waist, trying to cease the pain but failing miserably.

Legolas noticed the change in behavior but said nothing; just looked slightly back at the small blonde behind him with his brow furrowed in confusion and a hint of worry.

Buffy's stomach calmed when the horses pace turned to a steady walk as they passed by through the gates of Edoras. She slowly opened her eyes and saw many of the villagers staring at them, but mainly her. She had never felt so out of place in her life, except for the fact that she was the slayer in her world.

She looked ahead and saw the same large building as before and it looked even more beautiful close up. She saw a woman in a white gown near the stone steps and it appeared she was watching them approach but it was difficult to tell. She watched as the woman ran back into the building; perhaps to heed a warning.

They dismounted the horses and Legolas offered to help Buffy down but she refused the offer. As soon as her feet hit the ground her knees caved in; causing her to lose her balance and nearly fall to the ground. If it weren't for Legolas' hand on her arm she would have. She slowly looked up and saw him staring back down at her. She saw extreme worry and she sent him a strong smile and stood up straight ignoring the plea from her legs to sit and rest.

"I've never ridden a horse before. My legs aren't used to it." She lied as she took her arm politely from his grasp. He slowly lowered his arm to his side while nodding to her in understanding, but had a feeling she wasn't telling him the truth. The whole truth anyway.

Guards walked out of the entrance of the building and Buffy could tell they weren't the welcoming committee. They reached the top of the steps to stand in front of the guards.

"I cannot allow you before Theoden King so armed, Gandalf Grayhame.-- By order of Grima Wormtongue."

Gandalf nodded to his companions as he looked at them and without hesitation they handed over their weapons. Buffy was a bit impressed by Legolas' maneuver at unsheathing his swords; spinning them in sync before handing them to the guards.

"You too, miss." The main guard ordered her and she quickly looked up at him with surprise written on her face.

"Oh, uh…only if you want to cut off my arms and legs." Buffy gave the guard her best smile but he held his tight frown. "I have no weapons." She finally answered after getting silence from the man. The guard turned away from her without a second glance to Gandalf. "Tough crowd." She whispered; getting the elf and dwarf's attention and decided it'd be best to just ignore them for the time being.

"Your staff." The guard demanded from Gandalf.

"Oh. No, you wouldn't part an old man from his walking stick?" Gandalf asked with his best smile. The guard looked at him disapprovingly, but allowed him to pass with his staff. Buffy had to stifle a laugh as Gandalf hook arms with Legolas for 'support'.

"My Lord. Gandalf the Grey is coming." The disgusting man sitting along side a very frail and old man spoke into his ear and right away Buffy was suspicious of him. She felt something from him. Evil. That's exactly what it was she felt. Ah, there were times were being a slayer wasn't always bad. She walked a few paces behind everyone else; frightened to get in the way of whatever it was they planned to do.

"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden King." Gandalf's voice echoed throughout the hall as he slowly walked towards the King and his throne.

"He is not welcome here." The gastly man whispered once again to him. But it seemed to her that he wasn't speaking to the man beside him, more to someone else who remained to be seen.

"Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?" The old man asked, his voice coming out dry and cracked; forcing Buffy to fight back the urge to clear her own throat.

"A just question my liege." Gandalf answered.

The man beside the so-called King stood quickly, anger flowing through his eyes. "Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell I name him. Ill news is in ill guest."

"Be silent! Keep your forked tongue behind you teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy gird words with a witless worm!" Gandalf's voiced boomed throughout as he raised his staff, causing Buffy to jump out of her skin. She hadn't really thought about how much power was held just behind the voice of the kind old man before her.

"His staff! I told you to take the wizard's staff!" Grima yelled at the guards in panic and anger when he saw the white staff in the hand of the wizard.

The guards lunged towards Gandalf but their way was blocked by the three warriors. Buffy noticed the punches that were being thrown in and knew this was a time where she wouldn't be in the way.

She jumped in front of a guard who was nearing Gandalf and he gave a slight laugh at her attempt. She laughed back at him before swinging her fist, making contact with his jaw and knocking him out cold. She saw another guard about to run past her and she quickly knelt down; sticking her right leg out she spun and connected it with that of the guards, toppling him to the floor below with a loud smack. She could slightly hear the words of Gandalf as he did his work, but she was too caught up in her work to really know what was going on. The fighting was making her head feel worse than before, her stomach felt as if it were ready to fall out and she knew her aches and pains throughout her body were going to be unbearably painful after this. She jump kicked another guard in the face as he attempted to tackle her to the ground. She looked around her and saw there weren't any other guards near her and decided on helping out the others. She saw Gimli had one foot on Grima's chest with his axe pointing to his face and she smiled at the sight. Just as she neared Legolas, Gandalf's final attempt to free the King sent the evil wizard out of the King's mind. But it also caused Buffy to scream out in pain as she gripped her head in her hands; collapsing to the floor at Legolas' feet in an almost lifeless heap.